Get to Know Another Blogger: Tonya, Budget and the Beach

Hi, Tonya! I’m really excited that you are writing online. You’re one of those people I “click” with, and even though we’ve not spoken on the phone, I do know that we are friends, and we’ll get along swimmingly. I am looking forward to your visit in September!

I know! I can’t wait to hang out with you in person and have you show me some of “your” Portland..you know…in case I ever move there someday! :)

What’s your story (your elevator pitch, if you will)?

I’m a freelance video editor living and working in Los Angeles, who shares the ups and downs of my financial life on my blog Budget and the Beach. I’m also an avid (beach) runner and beach volleyball player…hence the name of my blog.

What made you decide to start a blog?

I wanted to start a blog because I needed an outlet to share my struggles with my financial life, and I’ve just always enjoyed writing, and have had many blogs in the past. But this one is by far the most “successful” blog I’ve ever had. I love working on it.

What’s your next project?

Ooh good question! I would really love to work on some video projects that combine my blog, and my skills as a video editor. I’m thinking along the lines of a documentary. I also want to do more episodes of Budget and the Beach TV. Somewhere along the line I’d like to get better at public speaking so I help educate others about finances, and share my experiences in hopes of helping people avoid some of the mistakes I’ve made. And those are just a few of the projects I’m thinking about!

What part of the country do you live in? What do you like about it?

I live in Los Angeles in an area known as the South Bay. As you can see by the title of my blog, I LOVE spending time at the beach. I’m there literally every other day either running or playing beach volleyball. It’s a pretty chill area, and my neighborhood is great. It’s just expensive!

What’s the best thing about blogging?

The best thing about blogging is the amazing and supportive personal finance community. I’ve met so many awesome people through blogging, and have met quite a few in person as well. I also love that it’s a creative outlet, and I’m 100% in control over the content. Having that creative autonomy is great!

What’s the hardest thing about blogging?

The hardest thing is how much time it takes to read everyone’s blogs, comment, write, work on design, advertising, etc. I could really make it a full time job with how much time I want to spend on it. I also hate proofreading. :) It takes me twenty minutes to write a blog and two hours to proofread, and I still miss typos!

Do you blog full time? If not, what do you do during the work day?

No, but I would love to make a full time salary doing it. I’m a video editor.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I’m totally an introvert. I like being around people, but mostly in small groups like a dinner party, or a few people at a pub. Thankfully being an introvert is better on the budget since I don’t feel the need to go out to bars or parties at night.

Coffee or tea? What do you put in it?

Never been a big fan of tea. I wish I was because green tea is really healthy. I like coffee but I only drink it once in awhile now. Trying to cut out the caffeine as much as possible.

Are you planning on attending FinCon13? Why or why not?

Yes! So excited! This will be my first one! I wanted to go to meet some of the great people that I’ve made connections with this past year. And being an introvert, I’m stepping out of my comfort zone a bit, which is good for me.

What would you have as your last meal? Rules of this game: you’re not sick, and you have a super stomach which will allow you to eat more calories than normal.

First I’d start with a cheese platter of every single cheese known to man (I mean I have a super stomach so why not, right?). I’d also drink tons of the best red wine. For the main course I’d have steak and lobster, with some kind of pasta tossed in pesto. And for dessert I would have chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream. By the way if I ate that all in real life I’d probably puke, but this is fantasy! Hurray!

Name one thing in real life that drives you crazy.

Just one thing? lol! OK I hate when two or three people walk on a sidewalk and take up the whole thing while you are trying to pass. Like c’mon I know you know I’m back there trying to pass!

Name one thing on the internet that drives you crazy.

People that start comments with, “ummmmm” because you know it’s going to be snarky or mean. I don’t like meanness in general. I also have a pet peeve with writers who blog about what’s wrong with everyone else’s blog. “Keep your side of the street clean!” That’s my motto.

What’s the best (or “best”) pickup line you’ve ever heard or said?

You know I can’t really think of anything because “lines” are almost always super cheesy.

What’s the funniest prank you’ve played on someone?

I did an April Fool’s joke on my producer once that my old boss was in on. He told my producer I was pregnant (I wasn’t), and that he should be really nice to me because my hormones were raging. I totally played up the hormone thing and he bent over backwards to be super nice to me even though I was pretending to be really emotional. We finally let him in on the joke, and when my producer paid me for that job, he put the check in a “Congratulations on your new baby!” card! I thought that was funny.

What are some of your favorite books? Just the ones that come to mind, they don’t have to be the very best books of all time.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and I also love non fiction dramatic stories like Unbroken (I can’t wait to see the movie!) and Into Thin Air.

Who would play you in the movie version of your life?

I would want Tina Fey to play me. I’m mildly obsessed with her because she’s a genius!

Have you ever been in a fight? Did you throw the first punch?

Not really. I hate any kind of conflict like that…although my brother used to beat me up pretty bad growing up. Looking back, I wish I would have fought back.

Do you have now, or have you ever had, a tattoo? If so, details, please!

No, I’m too indecisive about what I’d get.

Where’s your next vacation?

Well Detroit, but I can’t really call that a vacation since it’s where I grew up. So I guess I’d have to say Portland/Seattle in September!

Please share a joke.

Well I haven’t told jokes since the invention of the interwebz, but when I was growing up this one was my “go-to” joke. “You know if you fart in church you have to sit in your own pew?” ha ha! So lame!

Ummmmmm ;-) If I had a line of people coming at me down the sidewalk, I'd walk right into them. I mean come on, it's common sense to get out of the way or fall behind or jump ahead of someone if their is walking traffic coming the other way. Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself but I guess since I read your blog everyday I feel like I already know you. Cheers and everything in moderation right… I think that dinner sounds perfect!!

Oh, I'm sure there's plenty I don't know about the Beach Budget but hey, that's why I'm sticking around and I'm sure all your fans do. Clearly I need sleep as I just made a typo in the above comment lol. I second that about post typos, I'm rubbish at it. I admit it. I never did say I was an editor, just a surfer boy who loves to save money. I need a vacation.